Optical systems and elements with projection stabilization and interactivity

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method related to projections and/or computing devices are described. Projections may be made from multiple computing devices to create a presentation. Various other embodiments are described.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/827,410 filed on Aug. 17, 2015 which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/936,524 filed on Jul. 8, 2013 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,113,292 issued on Aug. 18, 2015), which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/576,619 filed onOct. 9, 2009 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,483,756 issued Jul. 9, 2013), each ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for playing a game, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 2 shows an example mobile telecommunications device outputting aprojection according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows an example of multiple mobile telecommunication devicesoperating together to output a presentation.

FIG. 4 shows an example process that may be performed in someembodiments.

FIG. 5 shows an example process that may be performed in someembodiments

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following sections I-X provide a guide to interpreting the presentapplication.

I. TERMS

The term “product” means any machine, manufacture and/or composition ofmatter, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “process” means any process, algorithm, method or the like,unless expressly specified otherwise.

Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise)inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a“step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in themere recitation of the term ‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, anyreference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficientantecedent basis.

The term “invention” and the like mean “the one or more inventionsdisclosed in this application”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “someembodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “anotherembodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments ofthe disclosed invention(s)”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “variation” of an invention means an embodiment of theinvention, unless expressly specified otherwise.

A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does notimply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with anotherembodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referencedembodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not necessarily limited to”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. Thus, for example, the sentence “the portfolio includes a redwidget and a blue widget” means the portfolio includes the red widgetand the blue widget, but may include something else.

The term “consisting of” and variations thereof means “including andlimited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. Thus, for example,the sentence “the portfolio consists of a red widget and a blue widget”means the portfolio includes the red widget and the blue widget, butdoes not include anything else.

The term “compose” and variations thereof means “to make up theconstituent parts of, component of or member of”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. Thus, for example, the sentence “the red widget andthe blue widget compose a portfolio” means the portfolio includes thered widget and the blue widget.

The term “exclusively compose” and variations thereof means “to make upexclusively the constituent parts of, to be the only components of or tobe the only members of”, unless expressly specified otherwise. Thus, forexample, the sentence “the red widget and the blue widget exclusivelycompose a portfolio” means the portfolio consists of the red widget andthe blue widget, and nothing else.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The term “herein” means “in the present application, including anythingwhich may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality ofthings (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination ofone or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. Forexample, the phrase “at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel” meanseither (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car,(v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, acar and a wheel. The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifiesa plurality of things does not mean “one of” each of the plurality ofthings.

Numerical terms such as “one”, “two”, etc. when used as cardinal numbersto indicate quantity of something (e.g., one widget, two widgets), meanthe quantity indicated by that numerical term, but do not mean at leastthe quantity indicated by that numerical term. For example, the phrase“one widget” does not mean “at least one widget”, and therefore thephrase “one widget” does not cover, e.g., two widgets.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describesboth “based only on” and “based at least on”. The phrase “based at leaston” is equivalent to the phrase “based at least in part on”.

The term “represent” and like terms are not exclusive, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. For example, the term “represents” does not mean“represents only”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words,the phrase “the data represents a credit card number” describes both“the data represents only a credit card number” and “the data representsa credit card number and the data also represents something else”.

The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other setof words that express only the intended result, objective or consequenceof something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when theterm “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other words that theterm “whereby” modifies do not establish specific further limitations ofthe claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.

The term “e.g.” and like terms mean “for example”, and thus does notlimit the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “thecomputer sends data (e.g., instructions, a data structure) over theInternet”, the term “e.g.” explains that “instructions” are an exampleof “data” that the computer may send over the Internet, and alsoexplains that “a data structure” is an example of “data” that thecomputer may send over the Internet. However, both “instructions” and “adata structure” are merely examples of “data”, and other things besides“instructions” and “a data structure” can be “data”.

The term “respective” and like terms mean “taken individually”. Thus iftwo or more things have “respective” characteristics, then each suchthing has its own characteristic, and these characteristics can bedifferent from each other but need not be. For example, the phrase “eachof two machines has a respective function” means that the first suchmachine has a function and the second such machine has a function aswell. The function of the first machine may or may not be the same asthe function of the second machine.

The term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limits the termor phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “the computer sendsdata (i.e., instructions) over the Internet”, the term “i.e.” explainsthat “instructions” are the “data” that the computer sends over theInternet.

Any given numerical range shall include whole and fractions of numberswithin the range. For example, the range “1 to 10” shall be interpretedto specifically include whole numbers between 1 and 10 (e.g., 1, 2, 3,4, . . . 9) and non-whole numbers (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, . . . 1.9).

Where two or more terms or phrases are synonymous (e.g., because of anexplicit statement that the terms or phrases are synonymous), instancesof one such term/phrase does not mean instances of another suchterm/phrase must have a different meaning. For example, where astatement renders the meaning of “including” to be synonymous with“including but not limited to”, the mere usage of the phrase “includingbut not limited to” does not mean that the term “including” meanssomething other than “including but not limited to”.

II. DETERMINING

The term “determining” and grammatical variants thereof (e.g., todetermine a price, determining a value, determine an object which meetsa certain criterion) is used in an extremely broad sense. The term“determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and therefore“determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving,investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database oranother data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining”can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g.,accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” caninclude resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

The term “determining” does not imply certainty or absolute precision,and therefore “determining” can include estimating, extrapolating,predicting, guessing and the like.

The term “determining” does not imply that mathematical processing mustbe performed, and does not imply that numerical methods must be used,and does not imply that an algorithm or process is used.

The term “determining” does not imply that any particular device must beused. For example, a computer need not necessarily perform thedetermining.

III. FORMS OF SENTENCES

Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as wellas more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least onewidget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where ina second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses adefinite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”),this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature,and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of thefeature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than onewidget).

When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) isused as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unlessexpressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature,such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature thatis described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a“first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a“second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and“second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any otherrelationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate anyother characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mereusage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term“widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or afterany other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widgetoccurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does notindicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as inimportance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbersdoes not define a numerical limit to the features identified with theordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers“first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate thatthere must be no more than two widgets.

When a single device, article or other product is described herein, morethan one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) mayalternatively be used in place of the single device/article that isdescribed. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as beingpossessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than onedevice/article (whether or not they cooperate).

Similarly, where more than one device, article or other product isdescribed herein (whether or not they cooperate), a singledevice/article may alternatively be used in place of the more than onedevice or article that is described. For example, a plurality ofcomputer-based devices may be substituted with a single computer-baseddevice. Accordingly, the various functionality that is described asbeing possessed by more than one device or article may alternatively bepossessed by a single device/article.

The functionality and/or the features of a single device that isdescribed may be alternatively embodied by one or more other deviceswhich are described but are not explicitly described as having suchfunctionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include thedescribed device itself, but rather can include the one or more otherdevices which would, in those other embodiments, have suchfunctionality/features.

IV. DISCLOSED EXAMPLES AND TERMINOLOGY ARE NOT LIMITING

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of thepresent application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of thepresent application) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scopeof the disclosed invention(s), is to be used in interpreting the meaningof any claim or is to be used in limiting the scope of any claim. AnAbstract has been included in this application merely because anAbstract is required under 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b).

The title of the present application and headings of sections providedin the present application are for convenience only, and are not to betaken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

Numerous embodiments are described in the present application, and arepresented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments arenot, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presentlydisclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, asis readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced withvarious modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical,software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features ofthe disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understoodthat such features are not limited to usage in the one or moreparticular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they aredescribed, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Though an embodiment may be disclosed as including several features,other embodiments of the invention may include fewer than all suchfeatures. Thus, for example, a claim may be directed to less than theentire set of features in a disclosed embodiment, and such claim wouldnot include features beyond those features that the claim expresslyrecites.

No embodiment of method steps or product elements described in thepresent application constitutes the invention claimed herein, or isessential to the invention claimed herein, or is coextensive with theinvention claimed herein, except where it is either expressly stated tobe so in this specification or expressly recited in a claim.

The preambles of the claims that follow recite purposes, benefits andpossible uses of the claimed invention only and do not limit the claimedinvention.

The present disclosure is not a literal description of all embodimentsof the invention(s). Also, the present disclosure is not a listing offeatures of the invention(s) which must be present in all embodiments.

All disclosed embodiment are not necessarily covered by the claims (evenincluding all pending, amended, issued and canceled claims). Inaddition, an embodiment may be (but need not necessarily be) covered byseveral claims. Accordingly, where a claim (regardless of whetherpending, amended, issued or canceled) is directed to a particularembodiment, such is not evidence that the scope of other claims do notalso cover that embodiment.

Devices that are described as in communication with each other need notbe in continuous communication with each other, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit toeach other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine incommunication with another machine via the Internet may not transmitdata to the other machine for long period of time (e.g. weeks at atime). In addition, devices that are in communication with each othermay communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components or features doesnot imply that all or even any of such components/features are required.On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described toillustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the presentinvention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, nocomponent/feature is essential or required.

Although process steps, algorithms or the like may be described orclaimed in a particular sequential order, such processes may beconfigured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence ororder of steps that may be explicitly described or claimed does notnecessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in thatorder. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in anyorder possible. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneouslydespite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously(e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover,the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does notimply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations andmodifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process orany of its steps are necessary to the invention(s), and does not implythat the illustrated process is preferred.

Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps,that does not imply that all or any of the steps are preferred,essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of thedescribed invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all ofthe described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step isessential or required.

Although a process may be described singly or without reference to otherproducts or methods, in an embodiment the process may interact withother products or methods. For example, such interaction may includelinking one business model to another business model. Such interactionmay be provided to enhance the flexibility or desirability of theprocess.

Although a product may be described as including a plurality ofcomponents, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, thatdoes not indicate that any or all of the plurality are preferred,essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of thedescribed invention(s) include other products that omit some or all ofthe described plurality.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items(which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of theitems are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, aPDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list aremutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three itemsof that list are comprehensive of any category.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are equivalent to each other orreadily substituted for each other.

All embodiments are illustrative, and do not imply that the invention orany embodiments were made or performed, as the case may be.

V. COMPUTING

It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that thevarious processes described herein may be implemented by, e.g.,appropriately programmed general purpose computers, special purposecomputers and computing devices. Typically a processor (e.g., one ormore microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digitalsignal processors) will receive instructions (e.g., from a memory orlike device), and execute those instructions, thereby performing one ormore processes defined by those instructions. Instructions may beembodied in, e.g., one or more computer programs, one or more scripts.

A “processor” means one or more microprocessors, central processingunits (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signalprocessors, or like devices or any combination thereof, regardless ofthe architecture (e.g., chip-level multiprocessing/multi-core, RISC,CISC, Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages, pipeliningconfiguration, simultaneous multithreading).

Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of anapparatus for performing the process. The apparatus that performs theprocess can include, e.g., a processor and those input devices andoutput devices that are appropriate to perform the process.

Further, programs that implement such methods (as well as other types ofdata) may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media (e.g.,computer readable media) in a number of manners. In some embodiments,hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in place of, or incombination with, some or all of the software instructions that canimplement the processes of various embodiments. Thus, variouscombinations of hardware and software may be used instead of softwareonly.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium, a plurality ofthe same, or a combination of different media, that participate inproviding data (e.g., instructions, data structures) which may be readby a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take manyforms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media,and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, opticalor magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media includedynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes themain memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire andfiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled tothe processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves,light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generatedduring radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications.Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppydisk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magneticmedium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, papertape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM,an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrierwave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computercan read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingdata (e.g. sequences of instructions) to a processor. For example, datamay be (i) delivered from RAM to a processor; (ii) carried over awireless transmission medium; (iii) formatted and/or transmittedaccording to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Ethernet(or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth□, and TCP/IP, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G;and/or (iv) encrypted to ensure privacy or prevent fraud in any of avariety of ways well known in the art.

Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of acomputer-readable medium storing a program for performing the process.The computer-readable medium can store (in any appropriate format) thoseprogram elements which are appropriate to perform the method.

Just as the description of various steps in a process does not indicatethat all the described steps are required, embodiments of an apparatusinclude a computer/computing device operable to perform some (but notnecessarily all) of the described process.

Likewise, just as the description of various steps in a process does notindicate that all the described steps are required, embodiments of acomputer-readable medium storing a program or data structure include acomputer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed, cancause a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of thedescribed process.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations ordescriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrativearrangements for stored representations of information. Any number ofother arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g.,tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustratedentries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one ofordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content ofthe entries can be different from those described herein. Further,despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats(including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributeddatabases) could be used to store and manipulate the data typesdescribed herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a databasecan be used to implement various processes, such as the describedherein. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, be storedlocally or remotely from a device which accesses data in such adatabase.

Various embodiments can be configured to work in a network environmentincluding a computer that is in communication (e.g., via acommunications network) with one or more devices. The computer maycommunicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via any wired orwireless medium (e.g. the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, atelephone line, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communicationsline, commercial on-line service providers, bulletin board systems, asatellite communications link, a combination of any of the above). Eachof the devices may themselves comprise computers or other computingdevices, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® or Centrino™processor, that are adapted to communicate with the computer. Any numberand type of devices may be in communication with the computer.

In an embodiment, a server computer or centralized authority may not benecessary or desirable. For example, the present invention may, in anembodiment, be practiced on one or more devices without a centralauthority. In such an embodiment, any functions described herein asperformed by the server computer or data described as stored on theserver computer may instead be performed by or stored on one or moresuch devices.

Where a process is described, in an embodiment the process may operatewithout any user intervention. In another embodiment, the processincludes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or withthe assistance of a human).

VI. CONTINUING APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, anenabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some ofthese embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the presentapplication, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuingapplications that claim the benefit of priority of the presentapplication.

Applicants intend to file additional applications to pursue patents forsubject matter that has been disclosed and enabled but not claimed inthe present application.

VII. 35 U.S.C. § 112, PARAGRAPH 6

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which includes the phrase “meansfor” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6,applies to that limitation.

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which does not include the phrase“means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. § 112,paragraph 6 does not apply to that limitation, regardless of whetherthat limitation recites a function without recitation of structure,material or acts for performing that function. For example, in a claim,the mere use of the phrase “step of” or the phrase “steps of” inreferring to one or more steps of the claim or of another claim does notmean that 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, applies to that step(s).

With respect to a means or a step for performing a specified function inaccordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, the correspondingstructure, material or acts described in the specification, andequivalents thereof, may perform additional functions as well as thespecified function.

Computers, processors, computing devices and like products arestructures that can perform a wide variety of functions. Such productscan be operable to perform a specified function by executing one or moreprograms, such as a program stored in a memory device of that product orin a memory device which that product accesses. Unless expresslyspecified otherwise, such a program need not be based on any particularalgorithm, such as any particular algorithm that might be disclosed inthe present application. It is well known to one of ordinary skill inthe art that a specified function may be implemented via differentalgorithms, and any of a number of different algorithms would be a meredesign choice for carrying out the specified function.

Therefore, with respect to a means or a step for performing a specifiedfunction in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, structurecorresponding to a specified function includes any product programmed toperform the specified function. Such structure includes programmedproducts which perform the function, regardless of whether such productis programmed with (i) a disclosed algorithm for performing thefunction, (ii) an algorithm that is similar to a disclosed algorithm, or(iii) a different algorithm for performing the function.

Where there is recited a means for performing a function that is amethod, one structure for performing this method includes a computingdevice (e.g., a general purpose computer) that is programmed and/orconfigured with appropriate hardware to perform that function.

Also included is a computing device (e.g., a general purpose computer)that is programmed and/or configured with appropriate hardware toperform that function via other algorithms as would be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art.

VIII. DISCLAIMER

Numerous references to a particular embodiment do not indicate adisclaimer or disavowal of additional, different embodiments, andsimilarly references to the description of embodiments which all includea particular feature do not indicate a disclaimer or disavowal ofembodiments which do not include that particular feature. A cleardisclaimer or disavowal in the present application shall be prefaced bythe phrase “does not include” or by the phrase “cannot perform”.

IX. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Any patent, patent application or other document referred to herein isincorporated by reference into this patent application as part of thepresent disclosure, but only for purposes of written description andenablement in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 1, and shouldin no way be used to limit, define, or otherwise construe any term ofthe present application, unless without such incorporation by reference,no ordinary meaning would have been ascertainable by a person ofordinary skill in the art. Such person of ordinary skill in the art neednot have been in any way limited by any embodiments provided in thereference

Any incorporation by reference does not, in and of itself, imply anyendorsement of, ratification of or acquiescence in any statements,opinions, arguments or characterizations contained in any incorporatedpatent, patent application or other document, unless explicitlyspecified otherwise in this patent application.

X. PROSECUTION HISTORY

In interpreting the present application (which includes the claims), oneof ordinary skill in the art shall refer to the prosecution history ofthe present application, but not to the prosecution history of any otherpatent or patent application, regardless of whether there are otherpatent applications that are considered related to the presentapplication, and regardless of whether there are other patentapplications that share a claim of priority with the presentapplication.

XI. CARDS

Playing cards have been in existence for many years. Although there aremany types of playing cards that are played in many different types ofgames, the most common type of playing cards consists of 52 cards,divided out into four different suits (namely Spades, Hearts, Diamondsand Clubs) which are printed or indicated on one side or on the face ofeach card. In the standard deck, each of the four suits of cardsconsists of 13 cards, numbered either two through ten, or lettered A(Ace), K (King), Q (Queen), or J (Jack), which is also printed orindicated on the face of each card. Each card will thus contain on itsface a suit indication along with a number or letter indication. TheKing, Queen, and Jack usually also include some sort of design on theface of the card, and may be referred to as picture cards. Other typesof playing cards are described herein, but it should be recognized thatvarious topics may apply to any, some, and/or all type of playing cards.

In some cases, the 52 card standard playing deck also contains a numberof extra cards, sometimes referred to as jokers, that may have some useor meaning depending on the particular game being played with the deck.For example, if a card game includes the jokers, then if a playerreceives a joker in his “hand” he may use it as any card in the deck. Ifthe player has the ten, jack, queen and king of Spades, along with ajoker, the player would use the joker as an Ace of Spades. The playerwill then have a Royal Flush (ten through Ace of Spades).

Many different games can be played using a standard deck of playingcards. The game being played with the standard deck of cards may includeother items, such as game boards, chips, etc., or the game being playedmay only need the playing card deck itself. In most of the games playedusing a standard deck of cards, a value is assigned to each card. Thevalue may differ for different games.

Usually, the card value begins with the number two card as the lowestvalue and increases as the numbers increase through ten, followed inorder of increasing value with the Jack, Queen, King and Ace. In somegames the Ace may have a lower value than the two, and in games where aparticular card is determined to be wild, or have any value, that cardmay have the greatest value of all. For example, in card games wheredeuces, or twos, are wild, the player holding a playing card containinga two can use that two as any other card, such that a nine and a twowould be the equivalent of two nines.

Further, the four different suits indicated on the cards may have aparticular value depending on the game. Under game rules where one suit,i.e., Spades, has more value than another suit, i.e., Hearts, the sevenof Spades may have more value than the seven of Hearts.

It is easy to visualize that using the different card quantity and suitvalues, many different games can be played. In certain games, it is thecombination of cards that one player obtains that determines whether ornot that player has defeated the other player or players. Usually, themore difficult the combination is to obtain, the more value thecombination has, and the player who obtains the more difficultcombination (also taking into account the value of the cards) wins thegame.

For instance in the game of Poker, each player may ultimately receivefive cards. The player who obtains three cards having similar numbers ontheir face, i.e., the four of Hearts, four of Diamonds and four ofClubs, will defeat the player having only two cards with the samenumerical value, i.e., the King of Spades and the King of Hearts.However, the player with five cards that all contain Clubs, commonlyknown as a flush, will defeat the player with the same three of a kinddescribed above.

In many instances, a standard deck of playing cards is used to creategaming machines. In these gaming machines players insert coins and playcertain card games, such as poker, using an imitation of standardplaying cards on a video screen, in an attempt to win back more moneythan they originally inserted into the machine.

Another form of gambling using playing cards utilizes tables, otherwiseknown as table games. A table uses a table and a dealer, with theplayers sitting or standing around the table. The players place theirbets on the table and the dealer deals the cards to each player. Thenumber of cards dealt, or whether the cards are dealt face up or facedown, will depend on the particular table game being played.

Further, an imitation or depiction of a standard playing card is used inmany handheld electronic games, such as poker and blackjack, and in manycomputer games and Internet games. Using a handheld electronic game or acomputer terminal that may or may not be connected to the Internet, aplayer receives the imitation playing cards and plays a card game eitheragainst the computer or against other players. Further, many of thesegames can be played on the computer in combination with gambling.

Also, there are many game shows that are broadcasted on television thatuse a deck of playing cards in the game play, in which the cards areusually enlarged or shown on a video screen or monitor for easy viewing.In these television game shows, the participants play the card game forprizes or money, usually against each other, with an individual actingas a host overseeing the action.

Also, there are lottery tickets that players purchase and play by“scratching off” an opaque layer to see if they have won money andprizes. The opaque layer prevents the player from knowing the results ofthe lottery ticket prior to purchasing and scratching off the layer. Insome of these lottery tickets, playing cards are used under the opaquelayer and the player may need to match a number of similar cards inorder to win the prizes or money.

XII. RULES OF CARD GAMES Rules of Poker

In a basic poker game, which is played with a standard 52-card deck,each player is dealt five cards. All five cards in each player's handare evaluated as a single hand with the presence of various combinationsof the cards such as pairs, three-of-a-kind, straight, etc. Determiningwhich combinations prevail over other combinations is done by referenceto a table containing a ranking of the combinations. Rankings in mosttables are based on the odds of each combination occurring in theplayer's hand. Regardless of the number of cards in a player's hand, thevalues assigned to the cards, and the odds, the method of evaluating allfive cards in a player's hand remain the same.

Poker is a popular skill-based card game in which players with fully orpartially concealed cards make wagers into a central pot. The pot isawarded to the player or players with the best combination of cards orto the player who makes an uncalled bet. Poker can also refer to videopoker, a single-player game seen in casinos much like a slot machine, orto other games that use poker hand rankings.

Poker is played in a multitude of variations, but most follow the samebasic pattern of play.

The right to deal each hand typically rotates among the players and ismarked by a token called a ‘dealer’ button or buck. In a casino, a housedealer handles the cards for each hand, but a button (typically a whiteplastic disk) is rotated clockwise among the players to indicate anominal dealer to determine the order of betting.

For each hand, one or more players are required to make forced bets tocreate an initial stake for which the players will contest. The dealershuffles the cards, he cuts, and the appropriate number of cards aredealt to the players one at a time. Cards may be dealt either face-up orface-down, depending on the variant of poker being played. After theinitial deal, the first of what may be several betting rounds begins.Between rounds, the players' hands develop in some way, often by beingdealt additional cards or replacing cards previously dealt. At the endof each round, all bets are gathered into the central pot.

At any time during a betting round, if a player makes a bet, opponentsare required to fold, call or raise. If one player bets and no opponentschoose to match the bet, the hand ends immediately, the bettor isawarded the pot, no cards are required to be shown, and the next handbegins. The ability to win a pot without showing a hand makes bluffingpossible. Bluffing is a primary feature of poker, one that distinguishesit from other vying games and from other games that make use of pokerhand rankings.

At the end of the last betting round, if more than one player remains,there is a showdown, in which the players reveal their previously hiddencards and evaluate their hands. The player with the best hand accordingto the poker variant being played wins the pot.

The most popular poker variants are as follows:

Draw Poker

Players each receive five—as in five-card draw—or more cards, all ofwhich are hidden. They can then replace one or more of these cards acertain number of times.

Stud Poker

Players receive cards one at a time, some being displayed to otherplayers at the table. The key difference between stud and ‘draw’ pokeris that players are not allowed to discard or replace any cards.

Community Card Poker

Players combine individually dealt cards with a number of “communitycards” dealt face up and shared by all players. Two or four individualcards may be dealt in the most popular variations, Texas hold 'em andOmaha hold 'em, respectively.

Poker Hand Rankings

Straight Flush

A straight flush is a poker hand such as Q

J

10

9

8

, which contains five cards in sequence, all of the same suit. Two suchhands are compared by their high card in the same way as are straights.The low ace rule also applies: 5♦ 4♦ 3♦ 2♦ A♦ is a 5-high straight flush(also known as a “steel wheel”). An ace-high straight flush such as A

K

Q

J

10

is known as a royal flush, and is the highest ranking standard pokerhand (excluding five of a kind).

Examples

7♥ 6♥ 5♥ 4♥ 3♥ beats 5

4

3

2

A

J

10

9

8

7

ties J♦ 10♦ 9♦ 8♦ 7♦

Four of a Kind

Four of a kind, or quads, is a poker hand such as 9

9

9♦ 9♥ J♥, which contains four cards of one rank, and an unmatched card.It ranks above a full house and below a straight flush. Higher rankingquads defeat lower ranking ones. Between two equal sets of four of akind (possible in wild card and community card games), the kickerdetermines the winner.

Examples

10

10♦ 10♥ 10

5♦ (“four tens” or “quad tens”) defeats 6♦ 6♥ 6

6

K

(“four sixes” or “quad sixes”)

10

10♦ 10♥ 10

Q

(“four tens, queen kicker”) defeats 10

10♦ 10♥ 10

5♦ (“four tens with a five”)

Full House

A full house, also known as a boat or a full boat, is a poker hand suchas 3

3

3♦ 6

6♥, which contains three matching cards of one rank, plus two matchingcards of another rank. It ranks below a four of a kind and above aflush. Between two full houses, the one with the higher ranking set ofthree wins. If two have the same set of three (possible in wild card andcommunity card games), the hand with the higher pair wins. Full housesare described by the three of a kind (e.g. Q-Q-Q) and pair (e.g. 9-9),as in “Queens over nines” (also used to describe a two pair), “Queensfull of nines” or simply “Queens full”.

Examples

10

10♥ 10♦ 4

4♦ (“tens full”) defeats 9♥ 9

9

A♥ A

(“nines full”)

K

K

K♥ 3♦ 3

(“kings full”) defeats 3

3♥ 3♦ K

K♦ (“threes full”)

Q♥ Q♦ Q

8♥ 8

(“queens full of eights”) defeats Q♥Q♦ Q

5

5♥ (“queens full of fives”)

Flush

A flush is a poker hand such as Q

10

7

6

4

which contains five cards of the same suit, not in rank sequence. Itranks above a straight and below a full house. Two flushes are comparedas if they were high card hands. In other words, the highest rankingcard of each is compared to determine the winner; if both have the samehigh card, then the second-highest ranking card is compared, etc. Thesuits have no value: two flushes with the same five ranks of cards aretied. Flushes are described by the highest card, as in “queen-highflush”.

Examples

A♥ Q♥ 10♥ 5♥ 3♥ (“ace-high flush”) defeats K

Q

J

9

6

(“king-high flush”)

A♦ K♦ 7♦ 6♦ 2♦ (“flush, ace-king high”) defeats A♥ Q♥ 10♥ 5♥ 3♥ (“flush,ace-queen high”)

Q♥ 10♥ 9♥ 5♥ 2♥ (“heart flush”) ties Q

10

9

5

2

(“spade flush”)

Straight

A straight is a poker hand such as Q

J

10

9♥ 8♥, which contains five cards of sequential rank, of varying suits.It ranks above three of a kind and below a flush. Two straights areranked by comparing the high card of each. Two straights with the samehigh card are of equal value, and split any winnings (straights are themost commonly tied hands in poker, especially in community card games).Straights are described by the highest card, as in “queen-high straight”or “straight to the queen”.

A hand such as A

K

Q♦ J

10

is an ace-high straight, and ranks above a king-high straight such as K♥Q

J♥ 10♥ 9♦. But the ace may also be played as a 1-spot in a hand such as5

4♥ 3♥ 2

A

, called a wheel or five-high straight, which ranks below the six-highstraight 6

5

4

3♥ 2♥. The ace may not “wrap around”, or play both high and low in thesame hand: 3

2♦ A

K

Q

is not a straight, but just ace-high no pair.

Examples

8

7

6♥ 5♥ 4

(“eight-high straight”) defeats 6♦ 5

4♦ 3♥ 2

(“six-high straight”)

8

7

6♥ 5♥ 4

ties 8♥ 7♦ 6

5

4♥

Three of a Kind

Three of a kind, also called trips, set or a prile, is a poker hand suchas 2♦ 2

2♥ K

6

, which contains three cards of the same rank, plus two unmatched cards.It ranks above two pair and below a straight. Higher ranking three of akind defeat lower ranking three of a kinds. If two hands have the samerank three of a kind (possible in games with wild cards or communitycards), the kickers are compared to break the tie.

Examples

8

8♥ 8♦ 5

3

(“three eights”) defeats 5

5♥ 5♦ Q♦ 10

(“three fives”)

8

8♥ 8♦ A

2♦ (“three eights, ace kicker”) defeats 8

8♥ 8♦ 5

3

(“three eights, five kicker”)

Two Pair

A poker hand such as J♥ J

4

4

9

, which contains two cards of the same rank, plus two cards of anotherrank (that match each other but not the first pair), plus one unmatchedcard, is called two pair. It ranks above one pair and below three of akind. Between two hands containing two pair, the higher ranking pair ofeach is first compared, and the higher pair wins. If both have the sametop pair, then the second pair of each is compared. Finally, if bothhands have the same two pairs, the kicker determines the winner. Twopair are described by the higher pair (e.g., K♥ K

) and the lower pair (e.g., 9

9♦), as in “Kings over nines”, “Kings and nines” or simply “Kings up”.

Examples

K♥ K♦ 2

2

J♥ (“kings up”) defeats J♦ J

10

10

9

(“jacks up”)

9

9♦ 7♦ 7

6♥ (“nines and sevens”) defeats 9♥ 9

5♥ 5♦ K

(“nines and fives”)

4

4

3

3♥ K♦ (“fours and threes, king kicker”) defeats 4♥ 4♦ 3♦ 3 10

(“fours and threes with a ten”)

One Pair

One pair is a poker hand such as 4♥ 4

K

10♦ 5

, which contains two cards of the same rank, plus three unmatched cards.It ranks above any high card hand, but below all other poker hands.Higher ranking pairs defeat lower ranking pairs. If two hands have thesame rank of pair, the non-paired cards in each hand (the kickers) arecompared to determine the winner.

Examples

10

10

6

4♥ 2♥ (“pair of tens”) defeats 9♥ 9

A♥ Q♦ 10♦ (“pair of nines”)

10♥ 10♥ J♥ 3♥ 2

(“tens with jack kicker”) defeats 10

10

6

4♥ 2♥ (“tens with six kicker”)

2♦ 2♥ 8

5

4

(“deuces, eight-five-four”) defeats 2

2

8

5♥ 3♥ (“deuces, eight-five-three”)

High Card

A high-card or no-pair hand is a poker hand such as K♥ J

8

7♦ 3

, in which no two cards have the same rank, the five cards are not insequence, and the five cards are not all the same suit. It can also bereferred to as “nothing” or “garbage,” and many other derogatory terms.It ranks below all other poker hands. Two such hands are ranked bycomparing the highest ranking card; if those are equal, then the nexthighest ranking card; if those are equal, then the third highest rankingcard, etc. No-pair hands are described by the one or two highest cardsin the hand, such as “king high” or “ace-queen high”, or by as manycards as are necessary to break a tie.

Examples

A♦ 10♦ 9

5

4

(“ace high”) defeats K

Q♦ J

8♥ 7♥ (“king high”)

A

Q

7♦ 5♥ 2

(“ace-queen”) defeats A♦ 10♦ 9

5

4

(“ace-ten”)

7

6

5

4♦ 2♥ (“seven-six-five-four”) defeats 7

6♦ 5♦ 3♥ 2

(“seven-six-five-three”)

Decks Using a Bug

The use of joker as a bug creates a slight variation of game play. Whena joker is introduced in standard poker games it functions as a fifthace, or can be used as a flush or straight card (though it can be usedas a wild card too). Normally casino draw poker variants use a joker,and thus the best possible hand is five of a kind, as in A♥ A♦ A

A

Joker.

Rules of Caribbean Stud

Caribbean Stud™ poker may be played as follows. A player and a dealerare each dealt five cards. If the dealer has a poker hand having a valueless than Ace-King combination or better, the player automatically wins.If the dealer has a poker hand having a value of an Ace-King combinationor better, then the higher of the player's or the dealer's hand wins. Ifthe player wins, he may receive an additional bonus payment depending onthe poker rank of his hand. In the commercial play of the game, a sidebet is usually required to allow a chance at a progressive jackpot. InCaribbean Stud™ poker, it is the dealer's hand that must qualify. As thedealer's hand is partially concealed during play (usually only one card,at most) is displayed to the player before player wagering is complete),the player must always be aware that even ranked player hands can loseto a dealer's hand and no bonus will be paid out unless the side bet hasbeen made, and then usually only to hands having a rank of a flush orhigher.

Rules of Blackjack

Some versions of Blackjack are now described. Blackjack hands are scoredaccording to the point total of the cards in the hand. The hand with thehighest total wins as long as it is 21 or less. If the total is greaterthan 21, it is a called a “bust.” Numbered cards 2 through 10 have apoint value equal to their face value, and face cards (i.e., Jack, Queenand King) are worth 10 points. An Ace is worth 11 points unless it wouldbust a hand, in which case it is worth 1 point. Players play against thedealer and win by having a higher point total no greater than 21. If theplayer busts, the player loses, even if the dealer also busts. If theplayer and dealer have hands with the same point value, this is called a“push,” and neither party wins the hand.

After the initial bets are placed, the dealer deals the cards, eitherfrom one or more, but typically two, hand-held decks of cards, or from a“shoe” containing multiple decks of cards, generally at least four decksof cards, and typically many more. A game in which the deck or decks ofcards are hand-held is known as a “pitch” game. “Pitch” games aregenerally not played in casinos. When playing with more than one deck,the decks are shuffled together in order to make it more difficult toremember which cards have been dealt and which have not. The dealerdeals two cards to each player and to himself. Typically, one of thedealer's two cards is dealt face-up so that all players can see it, andthe other is face down. The face-down card is called the “hole card.” Ina European variation, the “hole card” is dealt after all the players'cards are dealt and their hands have been played. The players' cards aredealt face up from a shoe and face down if it is a “pitch” game.

A two-card hand with a point value of 21 (i.e., an Ace and a face cardor a 10) is called a “Blackjack” or a “natural” and wins automatically.A player with a “natural” is conventionally paid 3:2 on his bet,although in 2003 some Las Vegas casinos began paying 6:5, typically ingames with only a single deck.

Once the first two cards have been dealt to each player and the dealer,the dealer wins automatically if the dealer has a “natural” and theplayer does not. If the player has a “natural” and the dealer does not,the player automatically wins. If the dealer and player both have a“natural,” neither party wins the hand.

If neither side has a “natural,” each player completely plays out theirhand; when all players have finished, the dealer plays his hand.

The playing of the hand typically involves a combination of fourpossible actions “hitting,” “standing,” “doubling down,” or “splitting”his hand. Often another action called “surrendering” is added. To “hit”is to take another card. To “stand” is to take no more cards. To “doubledown” is to double the wager, take precisely one more card and then“stand.” When a player has identical value cards, such as a pair of 8s,the player can “split” by placing an additional wager and playing eachcard as the first card in two new hands. To “surrender” is to forfeithalf the player's bet and give up his hand. “Surrender” is not an optionin most casino games of Blackjack. A player's turn ends if he “stands,”“busts” or “doubles down.” If the player “busts,” he loses even if thedealer subsequently busts. This is the house advantage.

After all players have played their hands, the dealer then reveals thedealer's hole card and plays his hand. According to house rules (theprevalent casino rules), the dealer must hit until he has a point totalof at least 17, regardless of what the players have. In most casinos,the dealer must also hit on a “soft” 17 (e.g., an Ace and 6). In acasino, the Blackjack table felt is marked to indicate if the dealerhits or stands on a soft 17. If the dealer busts, all remaining playerswin. Bets are normally paid out at odds of 1:1.

Four of the common rule variations are one card split Aces, earlysurrender, late surrender and double-down restrictions. In the firstvariation, one card is dealt on each Ace and the player's turn is over.In the second, the player has the option to surrender before the dealerchecks for Blackjack. In the third, the player has the option tosurrender after the dealer checks for Blackjack. In the fourth,doubling-down is only permitted for certain card combinations.

Insurance

Insurance is a commonly-offered betting option in which the player canhedge his bet by wagering that the dealer will win the hand. If thedealer's “up card” is an Ace, the player is offered the option of buyingInsurance before the dealer checks his “hole card.” If the player wishesto take Insurance, the player can bet an amount up to half that of hisoriginal bet. The Insurance bet is placed separately on a specialportion of the table, which is usually marked with the words “InsurancePays 2:1.” The player buying Insurance is betting that the dealer's“hole card” is one with a value of 10 (i.e., a 10, Jack, Queen or King).Because the dealer's up card is an Ace, the player who buys Insurance isbetting that the dealer has a “natural.”

If the player originally bets $10 and the dealer shows an Ace, theplayer can buy Insurance by betting up to $5. Suppose the player makes a$5 Insurance bet and the player's hand with the two cards dealt to himtotals 19. If the dealer's hole card is revealed to be a 10 after theInsurance betting period is over (the dealer checks for a “natural”before the players play their hands), the player loses his original $10bet, but he wins the $5 Insurance bet at odds of 2:1, winning $10 andtherefore breaking even. In the same situation, if the dealer's holecard is not one with a value of ten, the player immediately loses his $5Insurance bet. But if the player chooses to stand on 19, and if thedealer's hand has a total value less than 19, at the end of the dealer'sturn, the player wins his original $10 bet, making a net profit of $5.In the same situation, if the dealer's hole card is not one with a valueof ten, again the player will immediately lose their $5 Insurance bet,and if the dealer's hand has a total value greater than the player's atthe end of both of their turns, for example the player stood on 19 andthe dealer ended his turn with 20, the player loses both his original$10 bet and his $5 Insurance bet.

Basic Strategy

Blackjack players can increase their expected winnings by several means,one of which is “basic strategy.” “Basic strategy” is simply somethingthat exists as a matter of general practice; it has no officialsanction. The “basic strategy” determines when to hit and when to stand,as well as when doubling down or splitting in the best course. Basicstrategy is based on the player's point total and the dealer's visiblecard. Under some conditions (e.g., playing with a single deck accordingto downtown Las Vegas rules) the house advantage over a player usingbasic strategy can be as low as 0.16%. Casinos offering options likesurrender and double-after-split may be giving the player using basicstrategy a statistical advantage and instead rely on players makingmistakes to provide a house advantage.

A number of optional rules can benefit a skilled player, for example: ifdoubling down is permitted on any two-card hand other than a natural; if“doubling down” is permitted after splitting; if early surrender(forfeiting half the bet against a face or Ace up card before the dealerchecks for Blackjack) is permitted; if late surrender is permitted; ifre-splitting Aces is permitted (splitting when the player has more thantwo cards in their hand, and has just been dealt a second ace in theirhand); if drawing more than one card against a split Ace is permitted;if five or more cards with a total no more than 21 is an automatic win(referred to as “Charlies”).

Other optional rules can be detrimental to a skilled player. Forexample: if a “natural” pays less than 3:2 (e.g., Las Vegas Stripsingle-deck Blackjack paying out at 6:5 for a “natural”); if a hand canonly be split once (is re-splitting possible for other than aces); ifdoubling down is restricted to certain totals (e.g., 9 11 or 10 11); ifAces may not be re-split; if the rules are those of “no-peek” (orEuropean) Blackjack, according to which the player loses hands that havebeen split or “doubled down” to a dealer who has a “natural’ (becausethe dealer does not check for this automatically winning hand until theplayers had played their hands); if the player loses ties with thedealer, instead of pushing where neither the player or the dealer winsand the player retains their original bet.

Card Counting

Unlike some other casino games, in which one play has no influence onany subsequent play, a hand of Blackjack removes those cards from thedeck. As cards are removed from the deck, the probability of each of theremaining cards being dealt is altered (and dealing the same cardsbecomes impossible). If the remaining cards have an elevated proportionof 10-value cards and Aces, the player is more likely to be dealt anatural, which is to the player's advantage (because the dealer winseven money when the dealer has a natural, while the player wins at oddsof 3:2 when the player has a natural). If the remaining cards have anelevated proportion of low-value cards, such as 4s, 5s and 6s, theplayer is more likely to bust, which is to the dealer's advantage(because if the player busts, the dealer wins even if the dealer laterbusts).

The house advantage in Blackjack is relatively small at the outset. Bykeeping track of which cards have been dealt, a player can takeadvantage of the changing proportions of the remaining cards by bettinghigher amounts when there is an elevated proportion of 10-value cardsand Aces and by better lower amounts when there is an elevatedproportion of low-value cards. Over time, the deck will be unfavorableto the player more often than it is favorable, but by adjusting theamounts that he bets, the player can overcome that inherentdisadvantage. The player can also use this information to refine basicstrategy. For instance, basic strategy calls for hitting on a 16 whenthe dealer's up card is a 10, but if the player knows that the deck hasa disproportionately small number of low-value cards remaining, the oddsmay be altered in favor of standing on the 16.

There are a number of card-counting schemes, all dependent for theirefficacy on the player's ability to remember either a simplified ordetailed tally of the cards that have been played. The more detailed thetally, the more accurate it is, but the harder it is to remember.Although card counting is not illegal, casinos will eject or bansuccessful card counters if they are detected.

Shuffle tracking is a more obscure, and difficult, method of attemptingto shift the odds in favor of the player. The player attempts to trackgroups of cards during the play of a multi-deck shoe, follow themthrough the shuffle, and then looks for the same group to reappear fromthe new shoe, playing and betting accordingly.

XIII. CASINO COUNTERMEASURES

Some methods of thwarting card counters include using a large number ofdecks. Shoes containing 6 or 8 decks are common. The more cards thereare, the less variation there is in the proportions of the remainingcards and the harder it is to count them. The player's advantage canalso be reduced by shuffling the cards more frequently, but this reducesthe amount of time that can be devoting to actual play and thereforereduces the casino profits. Some casinos now use shuffling machines,some of which shuffle one set of cards while another is in play, whileothers continuously shuffle the cards. The distractions of the gamingfloor environment and complimentary alcoholic beverages also act tothwart card counters. Some methods of thwarting card counters includeusing varied payoff structures, such Blackjack payoff of 6:5, which ismore disadvantageous to the player than the standard 3:2 Blackjackpayoff.

XIV. VIDEO WAGERING GAMES

Video wagering games are set up to mimic a table game using adaptationsof table games rules and cards.

In one version of video poker the player is allowed to inspect fivecards randomly chosen by the computer. These cards are displayed on thevideo screen and the player chooses which cards, if any, that he or shewishes to hold. If the player wishes to hold all of the cards, i.e.,stand, he or she presses a STAND button. If the player wishes to holdonly some of the cards, he or she chooses the cards to be held bypressing HOLD keys located directly under each card displayed on thevideo screen. Pushing a DEAL button after choosing the HOLD cardsautomatically and simultaneously replaces the unchosen cards withadditional cards which are randomly selected from the remainder of thedeck. After the STAND button is pushed, or the cards are replaced, thefinal holding is evaluated by the game machine's computer and the playeris awarded either play credits or a coin payout as determined from apayoff table. This payoff table is stored in the machine's computermemory and is also displayed on the machine's screen. Hands with higherpoker values are awarded more credits or coins. Very rare poker handsare awarded payoffs of 800-to-1 or higher.

XV. APPARATUS FOR PLAYING OVER A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

FIG. 1 shows apparatus for playing the game. There is a plurality ofplayer units 40-1 to 40-n which are coupled via a communication system41, such as the Internet, with a game playing system comprising anadministration unit 42, a player register 43, and a game unit 45. Eachunit 40 is typically a personal computer with a display unit and controlmeans (a keyboard and a mouse).

When a player logs on to the game playing system, their unit 40identifies itself to the administration unit. The system holds thedetails of the players in the register 43, which contains separateplayer register units 44-1 to 44-n for all the potential players, i.e.,for all the members of the system.

Once the player has been identified, the player is assigned to a gameunit 45. The game unit contains a set of player data units 46-1 to 46-6,a dealer unit 47, a control unit 48, and a random dealing unit 49.

Up to seven players can be assigned to the game unit 45. There can beseveral such units, as indicated, so that several games can be played atthe same time if there are more than seven members of the system loggedon at the same time. The assignment of a player unit 40 to a player dataunit 46 may be arbitrary or random, depending on which player data units46 and game units 45 are free. Each player data unit 46 is loaded fromthe corresponding player register unit 44 and also contains essentiallythe same details as the corresponding player unit 40, and is incommunication with the player unit 40 to keep the contents of the playerunit and player data unit updated with each other. In addition, theappropriate parts of the contents of the other player data units 46 andthe dealer unit 47 are passed to the player unit 40 for display.

The logic unit 48 of the game unit 45 steps the game unit through thevarious stages of the play, initiating the dealer actions and awaitingthe appropriate responses from the player units 40. The random dealingunit 49 deals cards essentially randomly to the dealer unit 47 and theplayer data units 46. At the end of the hand, the logic unit passes theresults of the hand, i.e., the wins and/or losses, to the player dataunits 46 to inform the players of their results. The administrative unit42 also takes those results and updates the player register units 44accordingly.

The player units 40 are arranged to show a display. To identify theplayer, the player's position is highlighted. As play proceeds, so theplayer selects the various boxes, enters bets in them, and so on, andthe results of those actions are displayed. As the cards are dealt, aseries of overlapping card symbols is shown in the Bonus box. At theoption of the player, the cards can be shown in a line below the box,and similarly for the card dealt to the dealer. At the end of the hand,a message is displayed informing the player of the results of theirbets, i.e., the amounts won or lost.

XVI. ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

It will be understood that the technologies described herein for making,using, or practicing various embodiments are but a subset of thepossible technologies that may be used for the same or similar purposes.The particular technologies described herein are not to be construed aslimiting. Rather, various embodiments contemplate alternate technologiesfor making, using, or practicing various embodiments.

XVII. REFERENCES

The following patents and patent applications are hereby incorporated byreference herein for all purposes: U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,181, U.S. Pat.No. 6,299,536, U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,103, U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,769, U.S.Pat. No. 7,114,718, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/622,321, U.S.Pat. No. 4,515,367, U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,453, U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,630,and U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,629.

XVIII. EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments may include one or more computing devices making one ormore projections to create a presentation. In some embodiments, multiplecomputing devices may operate under the control of an external centralauthority, may operate in a peer to peer manner, may operate in amaster-slave relationship, and/or may operate in any other manner. Insome embodiments, a first projection and second projection each may beprojected from respective computing devices in a manner that accountsfor position(s) of one or more of the computing devices and/or action(s)in an application running on one or more of the computing devices.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example computing device 201 that may be used insome embodiments. Computing device 201 may include a mobile computingdevice. Computing device 201 may include a wireless computing device.Computing device 201 may include a mobile telecommunications device. Forexample, the illustrated computing device 201 includes a cellulartelephone device such as an iPhone, a Blackberry, a smart phone, and soon. In other embodiments, computing device 201 may include a mobilegaming device, an iPod Touch, a digital camera, an iPod Classic, adigital media player, a PSP Go, and so on. Some example mobile gamingdevices are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/868,013, toLutnick and entitled Game of chance processing apparatus, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

Computing device 201 may include a projector 203 that may be operable tomake a projection (e.g., on one or more surfaces). Computing device 201may include an aiming device 205 that may be operable to adjust an aimof the projector 203. Computing device 201 may include a camera 207 thatmay be operable to capture images and/or videos that may be used toadjust, calibrate and/or aim the projector 203. Computing device 201 mayinclude a display 209 that may be used to present information to a userand/or receive information from a user. Computing device 201 may includea keypad 211 that may be used to receive information from a user.Computing device 201 may include a processor 213 that may be operable toexecute one or more instructions as desired and/or control one or moreelements of the computing device 201. Computing device 201 may includeone or more communication elements 215 that may be operable to receiveand/or transmit data. Computing device 201 may include one or moreposition elements 215 that may be operable to determine a position ofcomputing device 201.

Computing device 201 may be configured to allow a user to make phonecalls through a telecommunication system. Various technologies may beused to provide the ability to make phone calls. For example, in someembodiments, a cellular system may be used, unlicensed mobile accesstechnology may be used, voice over IP technology may be used, and/or anyother technology may be used.

Computing device 201 may be configured to allow a user to play games. Insome embodiments, a game may include server based games, peer to peergaming, and/or any other type of gaming. For example, the computingdevice may include a client of a gaming server such as a gaming serverassociated with a telecommunication system. In some embodiments, gamesmay include multiplayer games such as a card game or video gameinvolving a plurality of players (e.g., other players using othercomputing devices).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, computing device 201 may include a projector203. Projector 203 may include a pico projector, a mini projector, afull sized projector, and/or any desired projector.

Projector 203 may include a laser projector such as those manufacturedby Light Blue Optics of Cambridge, UK and Microvision of Redmond, Wash.Projector 203 may include an LED projector such as those manufactured bySamsung of Ridgefield Park, N.J. Projector 203 may include any desiredtype of projector.

Projector 203 may include a device embedded in computing device 201. Forexample, in one embodiment, projector 203 may include Microvision'sPicoP Display Engine. Other such projectors are available from UpstreamEngineering of Encinitas, Calif. One example computing device having anembedded projector includes the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj.

Projector 203 may include an accessory projector. Some example accessoryprojectors that may be used in some embodiment may include Digismartmanufactured by DigiSlide of Adelaide, Australia; PVPro manufactured byLight Blue Optics; SHOW WX manufactured by Microvision of Redmond,Wash.; and MBP200 manufactured by Samsung of Ridgefield Park, N.J. Othersuch projectors are available from Mitsubishi Electric of Irvine, Calif.

Projector 203 may include a matchbox-sized, sugar cube sized, and/or anydesired sized projector. Projector 203 may include a video and/or imageprojector. In some embodiments, projector 203 may use miniature lasersto display video images that overcome some size limitations of someprojection techniques. Laser projection techniques may allow for thegeneration and display of high-quality holograms at video frame rates.Projectors that use such techniques may be appropriate for projectingtelevision quality videos. In some embodiments, holograms created by aprojector may be created with a ferroelectric LCoS panel. The panel maycreate the Fourier transform of an image being projected, which whenilluminated by a laser light, creates an image projected onto one ormore surfaces. Some laser projection techniques may not include a lens.Some laser projection techniques may offer wide dynamic range in thelight output.

Projector 203 may allow for a variable size of a projection (e.g., byadjustment of operation of the projector and/or by movement of theprojector). Projector 203 may allow for variable orientation of aprojection (e.g., by operation of the projector and/or by movement ofthe projector).

In some embodiments, depending upon a technology, a brightness, a focallength, and/or a quality of optics of projector 203, a projection may bemade over a wide range of sizes (e.g., from a small private display upto a large, wall-filling movie screen).

One example projector device is described in U.S. Patent publication2009/0135377 to Yoon, entitled Projection Display Device, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. It should be recognized thatdifferent embodiments may include different structure and types ofprojectors and that the various examples of projectors are given as nonlimiting examples only. For example, in some embodiments, a projectormay be made up of multiple sub projectors as is described in U.S. patentpublication 2009/0153582 to Hajjar, entitled Laser displays Based OnColor Mixing Between Colored Light And Phosphor-Emitted Visible ColoredLight, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, projector 203 may be configured to receive anindication that a projection should be made. A projection (e.g., of animage, of a video) from a processor, memory, external source, and/or anyother source may be made in response onto one or more surfaces asindicated. In some embodiments, the indication may include a stream ofdata representing the projection. In some embodiments, the indicationmay include an identification of a memory location on which informationrepresenting the presentation may be stored. Making a projection mayinclude operating a light source such that the presentation is projectedonto one or more surfaces. In some embodiments, projector 203 may beable to project real-time images onto one or more surfaces. A surfacemay be vertical, horizontal, continuous, discrete, and so on.

In some embodiments, computing device 201 may be configured to make aprojection related to a game being played by a user of computing device201 through projector 203.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, computing device 201 may include an aimingdevice 205. Aiming device 205 may be a part of projector 203 and/or aseparate device. Aiming device 205 may be configured to adjust an aim ofprojector 203.

Aiming device 205 may include a mechanical device configured to rotateprojector 205, which thereby may cause a projection to rotateaccordingly. Such rotation may be performed in any manner as desired byany device, such as by a gear system controlled to rotate and therebycause projector 203 to rotate, a magnetic system configured to adjust amagnetic field so that a force is applied that causes projector 203 torotate, and/or any electronic, and/or mechanical device used in any way.

Aiming device may include a mechanical device configured to repositionprojector 203, which thereby may cause a projection to be repositionedaccordingly. Such repositioning may be performed in any manner by anydevice, such as by a gear system that causes projector 203 to adjust alocation relative to at least another part of computing device 201 whena gear is rotated, a magnetic system that causes a force to push and/orpull a portion of projector 203 thereby causing projector 203 to adjusta location relative to at least another part of computing device 201,and/or any electronic and/or mechanical device used in any way.

Aiming device 205 may be configured so that a projection may be rotatedto a desired angel without rotating computing device 201, for example,by rotating the projector 203 relative to at least another part ofcomputing device 201. Aiming device 205 may be configured so that aprojection may be relocated to a desired position without relocating thecomputing device, for example, by repositioning at least a part ofprojector 203 relative to at least another part of computing device 201(e.g., aiming the projector at an angle to the left to move theprojection left, and so on).

Some embodiments may be configured to aim by changing a projectionand/or changing a way that a projection is made. A change to aprojection may be determined by aiming device 205, by processor 213, bya central system, by another processor (e.g., of another computingdevice), and/or by any device. For example, in some embodiments, arotation of a projection may be performed by adjusting a projection madefrom projector 203 so that the projection may be rotated and thenprojected as the rotated version of the projection in addition to and/oras an alternative to rotating projector 203. As another example, in someembodiments, a repositioning of a projection may be performed byrepositioning a projection from one portion of an area that may be usedfor projections to another area that may be used for projections. Forexample, projector 203 may be operable to make projections in a firstarea. Projector 203 may make a projection onto a first subset of thefirst area. To relocate the projection, projector 203 may make theprojection onto a second subset of the first area. In some embodiments,this may leave an area onto which projector 203 is operable to make aprojection unused at some times so that repositioning may take place inthat area. Such repositioning may take place in addition to and/or as analternative to repositioning projector 203.

Aiming may be used, for example, to steady a projection made fromcomputing device 201. For example, a human hand holding computing device201 may jitter and aiming may be used to steady a projection so thatless jittering is noticeable in a projection made from computing device201. Aiming may be used, for example, to locate a projection onto asurface as desired. Aiming may be used to align a projection as desired(e.g., with another projection, with another object, with any otherthing). Aiming may be used to alter a presentation that includes aprojection as desired.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, computing device 201 may include a camera 207.Camera 207 may include a video camera and/or a still image camera.Various examples of computing devices that include cameras are known inthe art. For example, the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj is a computing devicethat includes a camera and a projector.

Camera 207 may be used, for example, to calibrate a projection made bythe projector, to adjust, calibrate and/or aim projector 203 and/or aprojection made by projector 203. U.S. patent publication number2007/0263181 to Hying, entitled Method for Operating a Mobile Device forProjecting Image data, and Mobile Projector Device and U.S. Pat. No.6,527,395 to Raskar, entitled Method for calibrating a projector with acamera give some example uses of a camera and a projector being usedtogether and are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Camera 207 may be used, for example to align a projection made byprojector 203. For example, in some embodiments, an image of aprojection made by projector 203 may be captured by camera 207. Theimage may be analyzed (e.g., by processor 213, by a central system, by aprocessor of a remote computing device, and/or by any other device) todetermine that a projection should be repositioned to better align withanother thing (e.g., another projection, an edge of a surface, asurface, and so on). The projector 203 may be controlled to adjust theprojection to improve the alignment.

Camera 207 may be used, for example, to determine if a projection isoutput as desired. For example, in some embodiments, an image of aprojection made by projector 203 may be captured by camera 207. Theimage may be analyzed (e.g., by processor 213, by a central system, by aprocessor of a remote computing device, and/or by any other device) todetermine whether a projection is output as desired (e.g., in a desiredlocation, including desired content, with a correct color scheme, with acorrect brightness, and so on. The projector 203 may be controlled toadjust the projection to improve any desired characteristic so that aprojection is more closely projected as desired.

In some embodiments, camera 207 may be used to determine an initialaiming for a projection. For example, an image of a surface may be takenand processed to determine an aiming of the projection that would allowthe projection to fit onto the surface.

In some embodiments, camera 207 may be used to audit projections. Forexample, an image taken by camera 207 may be taken and transmitted to anauditing device. The auditing device may be used to determine if thedesired projection was made at the time of the image being taken. Suchauditing may be useful, for example to determine if an outcome of a gamebeing played is properly displayed, to illustrate such proper display toregulatory authorities, to determine if an advertisement that is desiredto be displayed is displayed, to illustrate such display to anadvertiser that paid for the display, and so on.

Camera 207 may be used, for example, to determine whether projector 203is in operation, whether projector 203 is operating correctly, and/or todiagnose a problem with projector 203. For example, in some embodiments,an image of a projection made by projector 203 may be captured by camera207. The image may be analyzed (e.g., by processor 213, by a centralsystem, by a processor of a remote computing device, and/or by any otherdevice) to determine whether projector 203 is operating correctly (e.g.,determine whether the projection is being made at all, determine that aparticular section of a projection is not being made, determine that abrightness is not as desired, determine that a color is not as desired,and so on). If it is determined that projector 203 is not operatingcorrectly, an indication of the determination may be transmitted (e.g.,to processor 213, to a central system, and so on).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, computing device 201 may include a display209. Computing devices with various types of displays are known in theart. The display may include, for example, an organic light emittingdiode display, a liquid crystal display, and/or any desired display. Thedisplay may be used to present information to a user of computing device201. The information, for example, may be used to play a game usingcomputing device 201, make a phone call using computing device 201,watch a video using the computing device 201, view an image using thecomputing device 201, send a text message and/or multimedia messageusing computing device 201, present an advertisement to the user ofcomputing device 201, and/or facilitate any desired action and/orfunctionality.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, computing device 201 may include a keypad 211.Computing devices with keypads are known in the art. Keypad 211 mayinclude a numeric keypad, an alphanumeric keypad, and/or any desiredkeypad. Keypad 211 may be used to input information about games, emails,phone numbers, friends, contacts, text messages, tags, and/or tofacilitate any desired action and/or functionality. In some embodiments,keypad 211 may include haptic output elements.

In some embodiments, computing device 201 may include one or moreadditional and/or alternative input device to keypad 211. For example,computing device 201 may include a mouse, track ball, scroll wheeland/or any other device. In some embodiments, movement and/ororientation may be used as input to computing device 201. Some examplemovement and/or orientation devices are described below. Variousexamples of movement and/or orientation based input are known in theart, such as in numerous applications designed for the iPhone.

In some embodiments, a display may operate as a keypad and/or otherinput device. For example, a touch sensitive display or multi-touchdisplay such as one on an iPhone may be used as both an input device andan output device.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, computing device 201 may include a processor213. Some example processors are discussed above. Various processors areknown in the art.

Processor 213 may be configured to execute one or more instructions thatcause the processor to perform any desired process. For example, in someembodiments, processor 213 may execute instructions that cause theprocessor to control projector 203 to make a projection. As anotherexample, in some embodiments, processor 213 may be configured to receiveinformation (e.g., from an external source, from camera 205, fromlocation element 215, and so on), process the information, and controlelements of computing device 201 and/or another computing device basedon the information. Control of devices by a processor is known in theart.

In some embodiments processor 213 may be configured to receive an imageof a projection being made. The image may be captured by camera 207 andtransmitted by a bus or other communication network to the processor.The image may be captured by another source (e.g., a camera of anothercomputing device, a camera of a casino, and so on) and transmitted tothe processor over a communication network. The processor may processthe image to determine a characteristic of the projection. Various imageprocessing techniques are known in the art. In some example embodiments,processing may include comparing a portion of a captured image to aportion of an image in memory to determine an extent to which the imagesdiffer. The processor may determine if the characteristic of theprojection is as desired (e.g., if the images do not differ by more thana threshold amount). If the characteristic is not as desired, theprocessor may control a projector making the projection to adjust theprojection. The projector may be projector 203, a projector of anothercomputing device, and/or any other projector.

In some embodiments, processor 213 may be configured to control display209 to present information about a game.

In some embodiments, processor 213 may be configured to processinformation related to a game played using computing device 201. Forexample, processor 213 may receive inputs from a user of computingdevice 201 related to the game. Processor 213 may process the inputs,determine appropriate outputs, and control display 209 to present theoutputs. For example, in some embodiments, processor 213 may determinean outcome of taking an action in a game (e.g., a next card dealt, aresult of firing a virtual gun, and so on). In some embodiments,processor 213 may act as a thin client in a server based gaming system.For example, processor 213 may transmit some and/or or all informationregarding inputs to a remote system. The remote system may transmitresults of the input to the processor and the processor may control thedisplay and/or other output elements to present the results. U.S. patentnumber U.S. Pat. No. 7,189,161, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference, describes an example thin client system.

In some embodiments, processor 213 may be configured to process datarelated to a projection. Some examples of processing of data aredescribed in U.S. patent publication number 2009/0219380 to Cableentitle Method and apparatus for displaying images using holograms, andU.S. patent publication number 2009/0219591 to Cable entitled Methodsand Apparatus for displaying colour images using holograms, both ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Another example ofprocessing data to clarify a projection is provided in U.S. patentpublication number 2008/0015804 to Baik entitled Method and apparatusfor compensating for alignment mismatch of optical modulator, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

It should be recognized that the above descriptions of processor 213 andfunctionality of processor 213 are non-limiting examples only. In someembodiments, a processor may take any form and/or include any desiredfunctionality. For example, a processor may be configured to perform anydesired set of actions for computing device 201 and/or other device, actas a thin client to a remote system, act as part of a peer group ofother processors, and/or facilitate any desire actions in anycombination and in any capacity. In some embodiments, processor 213 mayinclude one or more specialized processors and/or other elements ofcomputing device 201 may act as processors and/or perform action outsideof the control of processor 213.

Some embodiments may include one or more memory devices. Memory devicesare discussed above. A memory may store instructions and/or data. Forexample, the memory may store information related to a projection by theprocessor. In some embodiments, information may be received from aremote source.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, computing device 201 may include acommunication element 215. Communication element 215 may be operable toallow computing device 201 to communicate with one or more remotedevices (e.g., a remote system, another computing device, and so on). Insome embodiments, communication element 215 may receive information froma remote source and forward the information to processor 213 and/or toany other destination (e.g., directly to projector 203, to a memoryusing direct memory access, using a bus, and so on). Communicationelement 215 may receive information from processor 213 and/or any othersource (e.g., camera 207, a memory location, and so on) and may forwardthe information to a destination (e.g., using a wireless network, and soon).

Communication element 215 may include a transceiver. Communicationelement 215 may include a receiver. Communion element 215 may include atransmitter. Communication element 215 may include an antenna.Communication element 215 may include a modem. Communication element 215may include a device configure to access a cellular network.Communication element 215 may include a device configured to access awireless data network. Various communication devices are known in theart that may be part of communication element 215.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, computing device 201 may include a positionelement 217. Position element 217 may be operable to determine aposition of computing device 201. Position element 217 may be operableto communicate the position to processor 211, a remote system, anothercomputing device, and so on. A position may include a location and/or anorientation. A position may include an absolute position and/or arelative position. For example, in some embodiments a position mayinclude a location relative to another computing device, an orientationrelative to another computing device, a position relative to a priorposition of computing device 201, an orientation relative to a priorposition of computing device 201, and/or any other desired information.

Various examples of device capable of determining an absolute and/orrelative location are known in the art. For example, a globalpositioning system may be used in some embodiments to determine anabsolute location. As another example, an accelerometer may be used todetermine a movement of a device that may be used to determine arelative location compared to a prior location. As yet another example,a signal analyzer may determine a signal strength from another device todetermine a relative location with respect to the other device. In someembodiments, a device configured to determine a location may include amicro-electronic mechanical systems device. It should be recognized thatthese example device for determining a location are given as examplesonly and that some embodiments may include any desired devicesconfigured in any way.

Various examples of devices capable of determining an absolute and/orrelative orientation are known in the art. In some embodiments, a deviceconfigured to determine an orientation may include s micro-electronicmechanical systems device. In some embodiments for example anaccelerometer, gyroscope and/or mercury switch may be used to determinean absolute orientation and/or a relative orientation with respect to aprior orientation. In some embodiments, a signal strength analyzer maybe used to determine a signal strength receive from another device todetermine a relative orientation with respect to another device (e.g., adevice that may be configured to transmit different signal strengths indifferent directions and/or when in different orientations). It shouldbe recognized that these example device for determining an orientationare given as examples only and that some embodiments may include anydesired devices configured in any way.

Some example devices that may use position determination devices includethe Apple's iPhone and Nintendo's Wii. Some examples of position devicesinclude the KXPS5 series accelerometer offered by Kionix Inc. of IthacaN.Y., and various accelerometers and/or gyroscopes offered bySTMicroelectronics, which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

In some embodiments, other devices may be used to determine a position.For example, in some embodiments, camera 203 may be used to determine aposition. For example, camera 203 may capture an image. The image may beanalyzed (e.g., by processor 213, by a remote system, by anothercomputing device, and so on) to determine a position (e.g., bydetermining if objects in the image have moved compared to a priorimage, by comparing objects in the image with objects in an image ofanother device to determine a relative position of the two devices, andso on). In another example, a plurality of signal strengths may be usedto identify a position based on relative signal strengths between thedevice and the source of the signals. In yet another example, an imagecaptured from another camera may be used to determine a position (e.g.,by an external source, by transmitting the image to the computing devicefor analysis, and so on).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, some embodiments may include atelecommunications system 219. Telecommunication system 219 may includea wireless telecommunication system. Telecommunications system 219 mayinclude a cellular telephone system, a WiFi system, a Municipal AreaNetwork system, a WiMax system, and so on. Telecommunication system 219,for example may include a cellular system operated by T-mobile, Verizon,or AT&T, a wireless network operated by a municipality or businessestablishment, and so on.

Telecommunication system 219 may include a communication device 221configured to communicate with one or more computing devices (e.g.,computing device 201). Telecommunication system 219 may include atelecommunication server 223 configured to provide telecommunicationservices to the one or more computing devices. Telecommunication system219 may include a projections and/or gaming server 225 configured toprovide serves related to projections and/or games to the one or morecomputing devices.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, telecommunication system 219 may include acommunication device 221. Communication device 221 may include awireless communication device. Communication device 221 may include acellular tower, a signal repeater, a router, an access point, and/or anyother desired communication device. Communication device 221 maycommunicate with communication element 215. Communication withcommunication element 215 may allow, for example, data transfer toand/or from communication element 215, communication device 221 and/orany thing in communication therewith (e.g., processor 213, otherdevices, projection and/or gaming server 225, and so on).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, telecommunication system 219 may include atelecommunication server 223. Telecommunication server 223 may providetelecommunication to one or more computing devices. For example,telecommunication server 223 may provide functionality such asauthentication, edges routing, call routing, call forwarding, callconnecting, DNS services, IP address services, phone related services,internet related services, and/or any other desired services.

In some embodiments, computing device 201 may be able to place callsusing the telecommunication system 219. In some embodiments, computingdevice may be able to access the internet and/or receive and/or transmitdata to and/or from remote sources using telecommunication system 219.

Various services may be provided to computing device 201 facilitated bytelecommunication system 219. Such services may include, for example,GPS services, direction services, gaming services, projection services,and so on. An example of a telecommunication system providing gamingservices is described in U.S. patent publication 2007/0060306 toAmaitis, entitled System and method for providing wireless gaming as aservice application, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Any desired services may be provided to a computing device throughtelecommunication system 219. It should be recognized thattelecommunications system 219 may not directly provide the services insome embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, a gaming server maybe operated outside of telecommunication system 219 andtelecommunications system 219 may facilitate communication between thegaming server and computing device 201. In some embodiments, such aserver that provides added functionality to the computing device may beoperated on behalf of the telecommunication system 219 or completelyseparately from telecommunication system 219.

One example service that may be provided in some embodiments includes aprojection and/or gaming service, which in the illustrated example ofFIG. 2 may be provided by projection and/or gaming server 225 as part oftelecommunication system. In some embodiments, projection and/or gamingserver 225 may be configured to determine one or more projections to bemade through one or more computing devices (e.g., 201). Projectionand/or gaming server 225 may be configured to control the one or morecomputing device to make the projections (e.g., by transmitting arequest to make the projections to the respective computing devices). Insome embodiments, projection and/or gaming server 225 may receiveinformation about a position of one or more computing device and/orabout actions taken in an application (e.g., a game) being used by auser of one or more computing devices. Projection and/or gaming server225 may use such received information to determine what projection orprojections to makes (e.g., to adjust an existing projection, to createan initial projection, etc.). In some embodiments, projection and/orgaming server 225 may determine outcomes of games being played by one ormore computing devices and may transmit information about those resultsto the computing devices.

It should be recognized, that in other embodiments, a central servicemay be less involved in projections and/or gaming and/or not involved atall. For example, in some embodiments, a projection and/or outcome of agame may be determined in a pier to pier fashion and or locally by thecomputing device (e.g., a processor of the computing device) with littleor no input by a central servicer.

As shown in FIG. 2, computing device 201 may make a projection 227 usingprojector 203. The projection may be made onto one or more surfaces 229.The projection may be part of a presentations associated with a game,movie, image, advertisement, and so on. For example, in someembodiments, a user may play a game using computing device 201 (e.g., acard game), elements of the card game may be in the projection (e.g.,card values). Play of the card game may include communication withprojection and/or gaming server 225 through telecommunication system219. Computing device 201 may be controlled to make projection 227 byprojection and/or gaming server 225. Similarly, other computing devicemay be controlled to make projections by projection and/or gaming server225 (e.g., such as other card values in the card game). In someembodiment, the combined projections may form a presentation (e.g., apresentation of a state of a card game involving the cards projectedthrough multiple computing devices).

In some embodiments, adjustments to a projection may be made based onactions taken by a user, repositioning of a computing device, and so on.For example, information about a an image of a projection taken bycamera 205, a change in position determined by position element 217, andso on may be used to determine such an adjustment should be made. Suchadjustments maybe determined by projection and/or gaming server 225 insome embodiments.

As mention above, it should be recognized that while some examples aregiven in terms of central server performing some actions, someembodiments may include peer to peer, master slave, and/or any othertype of methods to determine actions and/or control devices.

FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment that includes a first computingdevice 301 and a second computing device 303. In some embodiments, firstcomputing device 301 may include a cellular phone, a mobile gamingdevice, and so on. First computing device 301 may include a firstdisplay 305, a first keypad 307, a first projector 309, a first camera311, a first position element 313, and a first processor 315. In someembodiments, second computing device 303 may include a cellular phone, amobile gaming device, and so on. Second computing device may include asecond display 317, a second keypad 319, a second projector 321, asecond camera 323, a second position element 325, and a second processor327.

In some embodiments, first computing device 301 and second computingdevice 303 may operate together to create a presentation 329. Forexample, first computing device 301 may make first projection 331 usingfirst projector 309 and second computing device 303 may make secondprojection 333 using second projector 321. First projection 331 andsecond projection 333 may together form presentations 329 that includesat least a portion of each of the projections.

It should be recognized that although the examples are given with regardto FIG. 3 in terms of two computing devices, that some embodiments mayinclude any number of computing devices, including, for example three,four, five, and/or any number of computing devices creating a same,greater, or fewer number of projections that together form apresentation.

In some embodiments, a portion and/or an entirety of first projection331 may overlap with a portion and/or an entirety of second projection333 in any combination of portions and entireties. For example, in someembodiments, each of first projection 331 and second projection 333 mayinclude a common overlapping portion that is projected similarly fromeach of first projector 309 and second projector 321. In someembodiments, an overlapping portion from first projection 331 and secondprojection 333 may not be the same and/or may be made at differenttimes. For example, such projections may produce a holographic, moving,and/or textured effect by making different projections onto a same area.First projection 331 and second projection 333 may be made at a same ordifferent time, such as an alternating projection that makes a blinkingor flashing appearance in at least a portion of presentation 329. Suchan overlapping region may provide different presentation opportunitiesfrom what are available without an overlap. Such an overlapping mayallow alignment of first projection 331 and second projection 333 thatmay be easier than without an overlap.

In some embodiments, one projection may be made with a particularpolarization and another projection may be made with a differentpolarization. Such an effect may allow for 3d scenes, for example.

In some embodiments, a portion and/or an entirety of first projection331 may be embedded within a portion and/or an entirety the secondprojection 333 in any combination of portions and entireties. Forexample, in some embodiments, first projection 331 may include abackground area and second projection 333 may include a characterprojected onto the background area. In some embodiments, firstprojection 331 may include an area without a projection and secondprojection 333 may project into the area. Embedding may allow moreefficient work allocation, such as allowing a higher resolution and/orhigh refresh rate projector to project an area that may benefit fromthose qualities. Embedding may allow elements that are allowed from onlyone projector (e.g., purchased characters or game elements) to interactwith elements that may be allowed from the other projector (e.g.,characters tied to a projector).

In some embodiments, no portion of first projection 331 and secondprojection 333 may overlap or be embedded with or in each other. Forexample, first projection 331 and second projection 333 may be adjacentto one another. Such projections may make a wider or otherwise largerpresentation 329 than would be possible with a single projection oroverlapping or embedded projections. In some embodiments, projectionsmay be distant from each other, such as on opposing walls, and so on.This may allow the creation of more encompassing presentations.

Some examples of multiple projections are described in U.S. patentpublication number 2007/0047043 to Kapellner entitled Image ProjectingDevice and Method, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

It should be recognized that in various embodiments, any combination ofnon-overlapping, overlapping, embedded, and non-embedded projections maybe made from any number of projectors of any number of computing devicesto create a presentation.

For example, in some examples, a first and second projection may becompletely overlapping, a third presentation may be partially embeddedin the first and second projections, and partially overlapping with afourth projection, and a fifth projection may be distant from each ofthe other presentations. These five projections may form an examplepresentation.

In some embodiments, presentation 329 may be controlled, at least inpart, by a remote source (e.g., a projection and/or gaming server), byone or more of processors 313 and 327 and/or by any other device. Forexample, in some embodiments, projector 309 may be controlled by acentral server such as projection and/or gaming server described above,by processor 313, and/or by processor 327.

Control may include any desired behavior, such as direct control, minorinfluence, major influence, indirect influence, indirect control, and soon. For example, in some embodiments, a remote source may take completeand total control over projector 309 such that the remote source causesthe projection to operate. In some embodiments control may includeinfluence, so that for example, in a peer to peer example, two devicesmay communicate together regarding a presentation to be made and one mayinfluence another and/or they may influence each other, thereby havingshared control over each other. For example, in an embodiment where apeer to peer game is being played by computing device 201 and computingdevice 303, actions on computing device 301 may change projection 333from second computing device 303. Likewise, actions taken on computingdevice 303 may change projection 331 from computing device 301. Each ofthe first computing device 301 and computing device 303 should beunderstood to control the projection from the other computing device insuch an embodiment. In some embodiments, computing devices 301 and 303may act in a master/slave relationship where one controls the other butnot in reverse. It should be recognized that any manner and combinationof controlling may be used in any embodiment.

In some embodiments, change in position of one computing device mayaffect a projection made by another computing device. Such a change maybe made so that presentation 329 continues to have a desiredcharacteristic after the change in position. For example in someembodiments, if first computing device 301 is rotated 90 degrees, firstpresentation 331 may be rotated 90 degrees in the opposite direction sothat presentation 329 appears the same before and after the change inposition. Similarly, as another example, if second computing device 303is moved location one inch to the right, projection 333 may be moved oneinch to the left so that the combined presentation 329 appears the samebefore and after the change in position. Control and determination of achange to a presentation may be made in any manner, such as by aprocessor, server, peer to peer, master/slave, client/server, and/or anyother desired fashion.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example process 400 that may be performed in someembodiments. Process 400 may be performed to control one or moreprojections from one or more computing devices. Process 400 may beperformed by a central server such as gaming and/or projection serverdescribed above. Process 300 may begin at block 401.

Process 400 may include determining a presentation as indicated at block403. For example, the presentation may be related to a game being playedby one or more users of one or more computing devices (e.g., a first andsecond computing device). For example, the presentation may include animage and/or video that represents a state of a game. The determinationmay be made based on a current state of a game, actions taken in a game,positions of one or more computing devices, and/or any other desiredthings. The presentations may include an advertisement (e.g., directedat one or more users of one or more computing devices). Various examplesof advertising and targeting advertising are described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/147,005 to Lutnick and entitled Method andapparatus for advertising on a mobile gaming device, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

Process 400 may include determining one or more portions of thepresentation, in which each portion is to be projected through one ormore projectors respective projectors of one or more respectivecomputing devices, as indicated at block 405.

For example, a first portion of the presentation to be made through aprojector of a first mobile telecommunication device and a secondportion of the presentation to be made through a projector of a secondmobile telecommunication device may each be determined. Determining theportions may include determining the portions based on information abouta user and/or a device. For example a position of a user and/or device(e.g., location, orientation, etc.), a type of user or device, elementsavailable to a device (e.g., projections purchased for use by a deviceand/or user), and/or any other characteristic of a user and/or devicemay be used to determine the portions (e.g., one device is better atprojecting certain types of projections than another so thedetermination may be made to make projections of those types through thebetter projector). Determining the portion may include determining theportion based on activity on one or more of the devices (e.g.,projections from a device may include a view into a virtual world andactivity may include moving in the virtual world). Determining theportions may include determining the portions based on any informationdesired to be displayed to users of the devices, such as a movie images,advertising, etc.

In one example, determining the portions may be based on events in agame. For example, a first projection may be determined to include cardsdealt to a first player and a second projection may include cards dealtto a second player. Accordingly, as cards change in the game, adetermination may be made that the portions of the presentation shouldchange based on the current cards. In another example, a first personshooter or other video game may be a basis for a presentation. In such apresentation, each portion may include a view of a particular player ina virtual game world. Accordingly, a change to the world or movement ofa player may cause the portion of the presentation to change to reflectthe change. It should be recognized that in various embodiments anydetermination may be made based on any desired reasons.

Process 400 may include transmitting respective requests to projectionrespective portions of the presentation to respective devices asindicated at block 407. For example, transmitting may includetransmitting a first request to make a first projection of the firstportion of the presentation from a first projector of a first mobiletelecommunication device and transmitting a second request to make asecond projection of the second portion of the presentation from asecond projector of a second mobile telecommunication device. Such arequest may include an indication of the portion itself. For example, insome embodiments, data may be streamed to each device. The data mayinclude video or image footage that is then projected. In someembodiments, the request may include an indication of instructions thatcause the projection to be made. In other embodiments, such a requestmay include an indication of a memory location that may contain theportion or instructions to cause the projection to be made. A requestmay include a transmission over a wireless network. It should berecognized that any desired form of a request may be made.

In some embodiments, each of the respective devices may receive therespective requests. In response to receiving the request, the devicesmay project the respective portion of the presentation to create thepresentation. A request to make a projection may include an indicationof an aiming as discussed above. For example an indication of an aimingmay include an indication of an orientation of a projector, anindication of a rotation of a projection, an indication of a portion ofa projection area to be used, an indication of a movement of aprojector, and so on.

In some embodiments, a process that includes some or all acts up to thispoint in process 400 may be used to make initial projections of apresentation. In some embodiments, such a presentation may change overtime as discussed above.

Process 400 may include receiving one or more indications of respectivepositions of each of a plurality of devices used to make a presentationas indicated at block 409. For example, an indication of a position of afirst device and a mobile telecommunication device and/or an indicationof a position of a second mobile telecommunication device may bereceived. Such indications may be received together (e.g., as oneindication of a relative position). Various example devices from whichsuch an indication may be received are discussed above (e.g., camera ofa device, camera of another device, gps, gyroscope, accelerometer, andso on). It should be recognized that any indication of a position fromany device or devices in any combination may be used in variousembodiments. As discussed above, an indication of a position may includean indication of an absolute position, an indication of a relativeposition, and so on. In some examples, changes to a position of a devicemay relate to minor body motions as a user holds a device in his or herhands and or drastic changes to a position from a user walking, runningswinging arms, and so on.

Process 400 may include receiving an indication of one or more actions(e.g., an action to take in an application associated with one or moredevices) as indicated at block 411. For example, in some embodiments, anindication of an action taken in a game may be received. For example, anindication that a card should be replaced, that a bet should be made,that a gun should be fired, that an avatar should move in a direct, andso on may be received.

Process 400 may include determining one or more portions of thepresentation, in which each portion is to be projected through one ormore projectors respective projectors of one or more respectivecomputing devices based on the position(s) and/or action(s), asindicated at block 413.

For example, some embodiments may include determining a first portion ofa presentation to be made using a first mobile telecommunication devicebased on at least one of a first position and a second position and/ordetermine a second portion of the presentation to be made using thesecond mobile telecommunication device based on the first positionand/or the second position in any combination.

For example, in some embodiments, a receipt that a change in position ofa first device relative to a second device occurred so that the firstdevice is now rotated 90 degrees with respect to the second device. Adetermination in such a situation may be made that a first projectionbeing made through the first device should now be rotated 90 degrees.

As another example, in some embodiments, an indication that a change ina position of a first device has occurred so that the first device isnow one foot higher than it once was. A determination in such asituation may be made so that a first portion is projected lower than itonce was and/or that a second portion is now projected higher than itonce was.

As yet another example, in some embodiments, an indication that a firstand second devices have moved closer together may be received. Adetermination that a presentation that spans the projections of the twodevices should be changed may be determined. For example, if anoverlapping portion exists, then the overlapping portion may be adjustedso that the overlap is correct in view of the changed position (e.g.,adjust the area projected, adjust what is projected, etc.). If anembedded portion exists, then the determination may be made to adjustthe location of the embedded portion so that the presentation appearscorrectly. If there is supposed to be no overlap and no embedding, thena determination may be made that that first and second portions may bemoved apart to avoid an overlap.

In some embodiments, a portion may be determined so that the portionappears adjacent to another portion. In some embodiments, a portion maybe determined so that a presentation appears similar when one or moredevices changes position.

As an even further example, a determination of a first and secondportion of a presentation may be determined based on an indication ofthe action. For example, if an indication that a card should be drawnfor a first player is received, the first portion may be determined sothat it includes the card. For another example, if a user fires avirtual gun in a game played by a first device, a display on a first andsecond device may be change accordingly (e.g., to show a bullet, etc.).

It should be recognized that any combination of actions and/or positionsmay be used to determine one or more projections.

Although some examples have been given in terms of determining a changeof a projection from a prior projection based on actions and/orpositions, it should be recognized that a first time projection may bedetermined in a similar fashion. For example, a position may influencehow a projection is first made.

Process 400 may include transmitting respective requests to makerespective projections to one or more devices. Together the projectionsmay make up the desired presentation. Such requests are described above.

Such requests may be received by a device. A device may process such arequest and make a projection accordingly. Each device may do the sameand thereby generate a desired presentation made up of each projection.

Process 400 may end at block 417. Process 400 is given as an exampleonly and it should be recognized that any number of acts in any ordermay be used in various embodiments. It should also be recognized that aprocess may be used with any number of devices and/or any number ofprojects.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example method 500 that may be performed insome embodiments. Such a method may allow one computing device tocontrol another computing device such as in a master/slave relationshipor a peer to peer relationship. For example, such a method may beperformed by a processor of a computing device (e.g., a computing devicemaking a first projection that in combination with a projection formanother computing device controlled by the first computing device formsa presentation). Process 500 may begin at block 501.

Process 500 may include determining a characteristic of at least a partof a projection to be made by a computing device, as indicated at block503. The characteristic may include a content of the projection. Thecharacteristic may include an aiming of the projection. Thecharacteristic may include a layout of the projection. Such adetermination may be made based on a state of an application, anadvertising plan, an action in an application, a position of one or moredevices, and so on.

Process 500 may include transmitting a request to the computing deviceto make the projection, as indicated at block 505. Such a request, forexample, may be transmitted through a telecommunications network.

The computing device to which the request is transmitted, may receivethe request. The computing device may make the projection as requested.The device that transmitted the request may also make a projection(e.g., a determination of a presentation may be made, a determination ofthe portion from block 503 and a second portion may be made similarly tothe first portion, the computing device may be controlled as discussedabove, and the device that makes the determination may also becontrolled to make a projection of the second portion). The projectionfrom each device may make up a presentation. Any number of devices maybe controlled similarly, and/or any number of projections may make upthe presentation.

Process 500 may include receiving an indication of a position of acomputing device (e.g., the computing device to which the request wastransmitted and/or the computing device that transmitted the request),as indicated at block 507. Various examples of such an indication andsuch positions are discussed above. In one example, the indication maybe of a relative position to the computing device receiving theindication. In one example, the indication may include an image from acamera (e.g., a camera of the computing device performing process 500, acamera of a computing device whose position is indicated).

Process 500 may include receiving an indication of an action to be takenin an application associated with one or more computing devices (e.g.,the computing device to which the request was transmitted and/or thecomputing device that transmitted the request), as indicated at block509. Various examples of such an indication and such actions arediscussed above.

Process 500 may include determining a first portion of a presentation tobe made based on the position(s) and/or action(s), as indicated at block511. Some examples of such a determination are described above. Thefirst portion may include a portion associated with a computing device(e.g., the computing device to which the request was transmitted and/orthe computing device that transmitted the request).

Process 500 may include transmitting a request to make a projection ofthe first portion, as indicated at block 513. Examples of such a requestare described above. Such a request may be received by a computingdevice and the computing device may make such a projection in response.

Some embodiments may include controlling the projection of a device thatmakes the determination to make a projection of the first portion and/ora projection of a second portion that together with the first portionmakes up the presentation. Various examples of determining and/orexemplary projection characteristics are described above.

Although examples of process 500 are described with respect to alteringa projection in response to position and/or actions, projections mayinitially be determined based on positions and/or actions.

Although process 500 may end at block 515. Process 500 is given as anexample only and it should be recognized that any number of acts in anyorder may be used in various embodiments. It should also be recognizedthat a process may be used with any number of devices and/or any numberof projects.

Although process 400 and process 500 are described as separate process,it should be understood that in various embodiments, control ofprojections may take any form, including a combination of centralcontrol and distributed control. As one example, in some embodiments,changes to positions may be controlled by devices in a distributedfashion and changes related to actions may be controlled by a centralsystem.

In one example presentation made from two devices, the presentation mayinclude a presentation of a game played by users of the two devices. Inthis example, the game may include a boxing game, but it should beunderstood that any game may be played (e.g., card games, casino games,video games, and so on). One user may operate a first fighter and asecond user may operate a second fighter. The presentation may includeboth fighters. As actions in the game occur, the presentation may updateto show the actions (e.g., punches, dodges, and so on). In someembodiments, one fighter may be projected from a first device and thesecond fighter may be projected from a second device. In someembodiments, one portion of a boxing area may be projected from a firstdevice and a second portion of the boxing ring may be projected from asecond device. Such a projection of portions may include one, both, orno boxers depending on the state of the game.

In some embodiments, users may purchase or otherwise associate avatarsor characters to a computing device (e.g., such as by buying a charactersimilar to buying a ring tone for a cell phone). In some embodiments,such characters may be used in games involving that computing device. Insome embodiments, such characters may be limited to projection from thepurchasing device. In some embodiments, such characters may be projectedfrom other devices when those other devices are involved in apresentation that includes the device. For example, in the boxingexample, a player may purchase a boxer to use in the game, may developthe boxer over games, and may use the boxer against other players. Whenusing that boxer, the device of the player and/or other devices involvedin a boxing round may project the character.

Although various examples of processes, devices, and so on are describedherein, it should be recognized that these are non-limiting examplesonly and that other embodiments may include some, all, or none of thedescribed examples in any order and in any combination.

XIX. FURTHER EMBODIMENTS

The following should be interpreted as embodiments, not as claims.

A. An apparatus comprising:

-   -   a processor configured to execute a plurality of instructions;        and    -   a memory on which the plurality of instructions are stored, in        which the instructions, when execute, cause the processor to:

receive an indication of a first position of a first mobiletelecommunication device;

receive an indication of a second position of a second mobiletelecommunication device;

determine a first portion of a presentation to be made using the firstmobile telecommunication device based on the first position and thesecond position;

determine a second portion of the presentation to be made using thesecond mobile telecommunication device based on the first position andthe second position;

transmit a first request to make a first projection of the first portionof the presentation from a first projector of the first mobiletelecommunication device; and

transmit a second request to make a second projection of the secondportion of the presentation from a second projector of the second mobiletelecommunication device.

A.1. The apparatus of claim A, in which the first position includes atleast one of a first location and a first orientation, and the secondposition includes at least one of a second location and a secondorientation.

A.2. The apparatus of claim A, in which the indication of the firstposition and the indication of the second position are received togetheras one indication of a relative position of the first mobiletelecommunication device to the second mobile telecommunication device.

A.3. The apparatus of claim A, in which the indication of the firstposition includes an image captured by a camera of the first mobiletelecommunication device and the indication of the second positionincludes an image captured by a camera of the second mobiletelecommunication device.

A.4. The apparatus of claim A, in which the indication of the firstposition includes a gps location of the first mobile telecommunicationdevice and the indication of the second position includes a gps locationof the second mobile telecommunication device.

A.5. The apparatus of claim A, in which the presentation includes adisplay of information related to a video game being played by a firstuser of the first device and a second user of the second device.

A.5.1. The apparatus of claim A.5, in which the first portion includes apart of the video game associated with the first user, and in which thesecond portion includes a part of the video game associated with thesecond user.

A.6. The apparatus of claim A, in which the first portion includes anoverlapping part with the second portion.

A.7. The apparatus of claim A, in which the first portion includes anembedded part in the second portion.

A.8. The apparatus of claim A in which the plurality of instructions,when execute, cause the processor to:

receive an indication of a third position of the first mobile device andadjust the first portion in response.

A.9. The apparatus of claim A in which the plurality of instructions,when execute, cause the processor to:

receive an indication of a third position of the first mobile device andadjust the second portion in response.

A.10. The apparatus of claim A, in which the plurality of instructions,when execute, cause the processor to:

receive an indication of an action to take in an application associatedwith the first and second devices and adjust at least one of the firstand second portions in response.

A.11. The apparatus of claim A, in which determining the second portionincludes determining the second portion such that the second portionappears adjacent to the first portion.

A.12. The apparatus of claim A, in which determining the first andsecond portions includes determining the first and second portions sothat the presentation appears similar when the first and second devicesare in the respective first and second positions to when the first andsecond devices where in prior first and second positions.

B. A first mobile telecommunication device configured to:

receive an indication of a position of a second mobile telecommunicationdevice;

determine a first portion of a presentation to be made using the firstmobile telecommunication device based on the position;

determine a second portion of the presentation to be made using thesecond mobile telecommunication device based on the position;

control a first projector of the first mobile telecommunication deviceto project the first portion of the presentation; and

transmit a request make a projection of the second portion of thepresentation from a second projector of the second mobiletelecommunication device to the second telecommunication device.

B.1. The apparatus of claim B, in which the position includes at leastone of a location and an orientation.

B.2. The apparatus of claim B, in which the indication of the positionincludes an indication of a position relative to the first mobiletelecommunication device.

B.3. The apparatus of claim B, in which the indication of the positionincludes an image captured by a camera of the second mobiletelecommunication device.

B.4. The apparatus of claim B, in which the indication of the positionincludes an image captured by a camera of the first mobiletelecommunication device.

B.5. The apparatus of claim B, in which the indication of the firstposition includes a gps location of the second mobile telecommunicationdevice.

B.6. The apparatus of claim B, in which the presentation includes adisplay of information related to a video game being played by a firstuser of the first device and a second user of the second device.

B.6.1. The apparatus of claim B.6, in which the first portion includes apart of the video game associated with the first user, and in which thesecond portion includes a part of the video game associated with thesecond user.

B.7. The apparatus of claim B, in which the first portion includes anoverlapping part with the second portion.

B.8. The apparatus of claim B, in which the first portion includes anembedded part in the second portion.

B.9. The apparatus of claim B in which the plurality of instructions,when execute, cause the processor to:

receive an indication of a third position of the first mobile device andadjust the first portion in response.

B.10. The apparatus of claim B in which the plurality of instructions,when execute, cause the processor to:

receive an indication of a third position of the first mobile device andadjust the second portion in response.

B.11. The apparatus of claim B, in which the first mobiletelecommunication device is further configured to:

receive an indication of an action to take in an application associatedwith the first and second devices and adjust at least one of the firstand second portions in response.

B.12. The apparatus of claim B, in which determining the second portionincludes determining the second portion such that the second portionappears adjacent to the first portion.

B.13. The apparatus of claim B, in which determining the first andsecond portions includes determining the first and second portions sothat the presentation appears similar when the second device is in theposition to when the second device was in a prior position.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a processor configuredto execute a plurality of instructions; and a memory on which theplurality of instructions are stored, in which the instructions, whenexecute, cause the processor to: determine a first position of a firstmobile telecommunication device; determine a first portion of apresentation to be made using the first mobile telecommunication devicebased on the first position; determine a second portion of thepresentation to be made using a second mobile telecommunication device;transmit, to the first mobile telecommunication device, a first requestto present the first portion of the presentation through the firstmobile telecommunication device; and transmit, to the second mobiletelecommunication device, a second request to present the second portionof the presentation through the second mobile telecommunication device.2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the first position includes atleast one of a first location and a first orientation.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1, in which determining the first position determining arelative position of the first mobile telecommunication device to thesecond mobile telecommunication device.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, inwhich determining the first position includes receiving a first imagecaptured by a first camera of the first mobile telecommunication device.5. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining the first positionincludes receiving a first gps location of the first mobiletelecommunication device.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which thepresentation includes a display of information related to a video gamebeing played by a first user of the first mobile telecommunicationdevice and a second user of the second mobile telecommunication device.7. The apparatus of claim 6, in which the first portion includes a partof the video game associated with the first user, and in which thesecond portion includes a part of the video game associated with thesecond user.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the first portionincludes an overlapping part with the second portion.
 9. The apparatusof claim 1, in which the first portion includes an embedded part in thesecond portion.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the plurality ofinstructions, when executed, cause the processor to: determine a secondposition of the first mobile telecommunication device and adjust thefirst portion in response.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, in which theplurality of instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:determine a second position of the first mobile telecommunication deviceand adjust the second portion in response.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1,in which the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause theprocessor to: receive an indication of an action to take in anapplication associated with the first and second devices and adjust atleast one of the first and second portions in response.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 1, in which determining the first portion includesdetermining the first portion such that the second portion appearsadjacent to the first portion.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, in whichdetermining the first includes determining the first and portion so thatthe presentation appears similar when the first mobile telecommunicationdevices is in the respective first position to when the first device wasin a prior first position.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, in which thefirst portion include a projection to be made through a first projectorcoupled to the first mobile telecommunication device.